How to Clean Concrete

Whether you want to remove dirt and debris from the driveway, or blast away oil stains – find out how to clean concrete with this how-to guide.

Opens in new window

Concrete is both durable and versatile, making it the perfect material for external surfaces and flooring. However, it is naturally porous, which also means it is a magnet for mud, dirt, and hard-to-remove stains.

If you’re wondering how to clean your concrete and any stains it may hold – this guide will tell you all you need to know!

First, remove any loose material with a brush. This will make the next step easier and prevent the pressure washer from turning debris into a potentially hazardous missile.

Wash the area with a product like Cif Cream Cleaner. This is useful even if the only contaminants are mud and soil, since these are usually bound by some amount of oil or grease.

Wait for 10–20 minutes (our favourite bit) then rinse with a hose.

Test out your pressure washer on a small area to get a sense of its pressure. The right pressure will vary depending on the concrete ­– looser concrete will demand a lower one. Remember: We’re trying to wash concrete, not blast bits off it!

Take your pressure washer and make broad, wide sweeping motions across the concrete. Direct the flow at a low angle of 30° if you’re cleaning concrete-joined blocks, so as not to damage the jointing.

Concrete Cleaning Tips: Choosing Your Pressure Washer

Like a lot of appliances, pressure washers come in a great array of types and sizes – not all of which will be right for the job. Many manufacturers or renters tout the maximum pressure of their machine, but this is far from the be-all and end-all. 20 MPa should be easily enough for most tasks and increasing pressure beyond what’s sufficient does little other than increase the risk of damage. Instead, the most important factor is flow rate – with adequate pressure secured, a greater flow rate means a faster clean.

Likewise, it’s advisable to use a fan nozzle rather than a jet. The fan sweeps out a greater area, making it easier to get an even final color, and makes for faster work too. It’s also easier to accidentally damage your concrete with the greater pressure of the jet, so there’s little advantage to using it.

If, however, you are struggling to find a washer with enough pressure, you can buy a rotating nozzle to boost the effective pressure of the water. These achieve the same effect as a fan nozzle but without deflecting the water, so that no momentum is lost.

Safety warning: 20 MPa is a lot (more than twice the pressure of a stiletto heel). So handle the washer with care, wear eye protection, and always follow the manufacturer’s instructions carefully! Learn how to use a pressure washer safely in this article!

How to Remove Stains from Concrete

If there’s an especially heavy oil or grease stain – as can so easily happen if you own a car or other vehicle – then take some clean cat litter or fine sawdust and cover the stain with it before washing. Then, leave it overnight. This takes some time, but the cat litter should draw the worst of the oil up out of the concrete, ready for it to be brushed away.

Share this article

Top Tip

As with all cement-based substances, concrete is naturally alkaline. Washing concrete with acid-based cleaners can therefore cause damage unless neutralized. Avoid this by cleaning concrete with alkaline products, such as Cif Cream Cleaner. These are just as effective at removing stains but gentler on your concrete.

Key Steps

Absorb the worst of any oil or grease stains.

Select your pressure washer wisely.

Wash floor with a detergent, then use a pressure washer.

Looking for inspiration?

Learn to clean other outdoor materials and areas of your home in the Out of Home section on Cleanipedia! From gutters to windows, cars to BBQs, we've got you covered.